Art creating a sustainable future, for generations to come
Art creating a sustainable future, for generations to come
L Í G I A O L I V E I R A
Statement
Over the years, my work has come to focus on a contemplative practice allied with the urgency of environmental needs. Phenomenology and nature; how we relate to the natural world with our senses, what emotions they provoke. Texture, colour, tone, rhythm, patterns, shapes; feelings of calm, belong, home. Different scales, perspectives of observation: the astonishing variety of nature. Natural materials have the appropriate smoothness, fluidity and delicacy for representing nature's essence - connecting to our bodily senses and to Earth itself.
I seek to create with meaning, allowing an emotional appeal that connects people with nature, inspiring for behavioural change and a wiser use of environmental resources, for generations to come.
Biography
I grew up surrounded by the tranquillity of Ria Formosa landscapes in southern Portugal, which have inspired me ever since. I studied Product Design in ESAD (Matosinhos, PT), and at 23 I started my PhD in Public Space and Urban Regeneration in the University of Barcelona, where I experienced working across disciplines in a daily immersion of four languages, learning from different cultures in its international environment. Since the beginning of my career, I maintained a balance between multiple practices – writing, drawing, painting, design; academic research and teaching.
I was a Researcher at the University of Barcelona, and a Professor at the Master degree in Art & Design for Public Space at the University of Porto. I am the author of several scientific articles on culture and urban regeneration; with Isabel Carvalho and Pedro Nora, we edited the book The Economy of the Artist, published by Braço de Ferro in 2010. My work has been exhibited in Paris, Antwerp, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Porto, and can be found in private collections in Europe and the US. I was awarded the 3rd prize in Urban Furniture by the Antwerp City Council & Antwerpen Havenhuis (co-author) and the 2nd prize in National Illustration by the Matosinhos City Council.
Since 2020, I am a member of RISE UP - A Blue Call to Action, an international network of ocean advocates organised by Oceano Azul Foundation; and since 2022, of the Design+Posthumanism Network.
Throughout the years, my artistic and research work has been supported by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Foundation for Science and Technology, and Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Recent clients include the European Commission and the Mind and Life Institute. Creativity and research are slow, demanding tasks and these institutions and many people have contributed to make my efforts possible. I am very grateful.
After living in Antwerp and then Barcelona for many years, I now work from Southern Portugal.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Solo
2021 Undeniable. PT/Online
2021 Between the Sea and the Shore. Pop Up Gallery. Faro. PT
2020 Inhabit the Body, Live the Place. PT/Online
Group
2022 Nature Inspired. Through Objects. PT/Online
2021 Pigments Revealed. USA/Online
2021 The Mind, the Human-Earth Connection, and the Climate Crisis. USA/Online
2020 Crafted & Curated. Through Objects. Copenhagen, DK/Online
2013 Nas Margens. Barcelona. ES*
2011 Nas Margens. Almada City Museum. PT*
2008 Pontevedra Cultural Centre. ES
2003 Voyager 03, ExperimentaDesign Biennale. Paris. FR**
2003 Voyager 03, ExperimentaDesign Biennale. Barcelona. ES **
2003 Voyager 03, ExperimentaDesign Biennale. Madrid. ES**
2003 Voyager 03, ExperimentaDesign Biennale. Lisbon. PT**
2003 Voyager 03, ExperimentaDesign Biennale. Azores. PT**
2001 XI Illustration and Comics International Exhibition. Porto. PT
2000 Urban Design Collective. Lisbon. PT
2000 Mail Art. Artes em Partes, Porto. PT
2000 Urban design collective. Lisbon. PT
2000 Objectos En/Inviáveis. Caldeira 213, Porto. PT
1999 Matosinhos City Council, Matosinhos. PT
1999 Havenhuis, Antwerp. BE***
*as part of CRPolis, University of Barcelona | **coauthor, w/ S’A architects | *** coauthor
Interventions
2020 Memorial. Un-built monument, several forests, PT
2020 Exoskeletons line. Intervention at Santo António beach, PT
2020 Woven into Nature. Small-scale interventions in Vila Real de Santo António, PT
HONOURS & AWARDS
2021 Mind & Life Institute. US
2020 Ministry of Culture. PT
2011 University of Barcelona. ES
2009 Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (w/Braço de Ferro). PT
2009 University of Porto (w/Braço de Ferro). PT
1999/00 Portuguese Design Centre. PT
1999 3rd Prize (co-author), Urban Furniture Award, Antwerp Port Entity and Antwerp City Council. BE
1999 2nd Prize, National Illustration Award, Matosinhos City Council. PT
DOCTORAL RESEARCH GRANTS
2009/13 Foundation of Science and Technology (FCT). PT
2000/03 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. ES
PUBLICATIONS
Features
2023 Bodies of Water. Three Knots Mag, Valencia, ES
2021 Oceanica. UNESCO Chair Ocean’s Cultural Heritage, NOVA University, Lisbon, PT (cover)
Books
2020 Odyssey (poetry. Author's edition)
2019 Sixty Days of Dawn (poetry. Author's edition)
2009 The Economy of the Artist. Porto: Braço de Ferro (Editor, w/ Nora, P. and Carvalho, I.)
Book chapters & scientific papers
2020 Artists & Climate Change. New York: The Artic Circle (online)
2015 AACA Digital - Asociación Aragonesa de Críticos de Arte. Zaragoza, Spain (scientific paper)
2015 On the Waterfront. University of Barcelona, Spain (scientific paper)
2009 Archaeology of the urban. Fine Arts Faculty of Porto University, Portugal (book chapter)
2014 On the Waterfront. University of Barcelona, Spain (w/Brandão, A; Castillo, M; Padilla, S.; Pinto, A; Salas, X; Sasa, Z.) (scientific paper)
2011 On the Waterfront. University of Barcelona, Spain (scientific paper)
2011 A Rua de Todos. Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Spain (scientific paper)
2011 VI CIPED, International Congress in Design Research. Architecture Faculty, University of Lisbon , Portugal (scientific paper)
2009 On the Waterfront. University of Barcelona, Spain (scientific paper)
2005 Arq./a, Revista de arquitetura e arte, Lisbon (article)
2000 Public space and Interdisciplinarity. Lisbon: Portuguese Design Centre (book chapter)
CONFERENCES, TALKS
2022 | RISE UP – A Blue Call to Action Working Session, an event of some of the 500+ members of this network, gathered before the UN Ocean Conference. Organised by Oceano Azul Foundation (Guest speakers included Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for the Ocean, Biologist Sylvia Earle). (Scheduled floor Intervention)
2022 | INTECH Talks | Eco-innovation success cases panel. With António Lorena (3Drivers), Eglantina Monteiro (8950) and João Navalho (Necton); mod: Pedro Lemos. INTECH Algarve - National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE) and the Universidade of Algarve; organised by Blue Seven. Online. PT (Invited talk)
2021 | Art & Sustainability. With Pepe Brix (Photographer), Rui Santos (Biologist, UAlg), Nicolas Blanc (Biologist, Sciaena); mod: Miguel Neto. Open Studios Faro at HB3, Faro. PT (Invited talk)
2011 | The City is ours... of all of us. IST Architecture Faculty/Institut pour la ville en mouvement, at MUDE, Lisbon. PT (Academic conference)
2011 | VI CIPED, International Congress in Design Research. IST Architecture Faculty, at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon. PT (Academic conference)
2010 | City Communication Seminar. Fine Arts Faculty, University of Barcelona. ES (Academic conference)
2009 | Polis Seminar. Fine Arts Faculty, University of Barcelona. ES (Academic conference)
2008 | Professional Practice Seminar. Fine Arts Faculty, University of Porto. PT (Moderator)
TEACHING & RESEARCH
2009/14 University of Barcelona. ES | Researcher at CRPolis, Art, City, Sustainability, Faculty of Fine Arts
2007/08 University of Porto. PT| Invited Assistant Professor (Project), Master in Art & Design in Public Space, Faculty of Fine Arts
EDUCATION
2014 PhD in Public Space and Urban Regeneration, University of Barcelona. ES
2002 Research Proficiency Diploma, PhD in Public Space and Urban Regeneration, University of Barcelona. ES
2000 Post Graduation in Urban Design, Portuguese Design Centre. PT
1999 Product Design Degree, ESAD. PT. Final year at University of Antwerp, BE